Switch.



No. 864,669. iATENTED AUG. 27,1907. B. L. MURPHY. SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 8. 190?.

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No. 664,669. P-ATENTED AUG. 27, 1907. B. L. MURPHY.

SWITCH.

APPLIUATION rILizn MAY 6, 1907. Q

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B. L. MURPHY.

SWITCH.

APPLIOIATIONVPILED MAY 8. 1907.

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A TTOHNEYS BURLEIGH LllOENE MURPHY, OF COLORADO SPRINGS COLORADO.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2'7, 1907.

Application filed May 8, 1907- Serial No. 372,523.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BURLEIGH LUCENE MURPHY, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Colorado Springs, in the county of El Paso andState of 0010- rado, have invented a new and Improved Switch, of whichthe following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to switches and it is particularly useful inconnection with switches for railroad tracks and the like The object ofthe invention is to provide a simple, strong and ellicient switch atwhich the main line track is continuous and unbroken, which can beoperated manually at the switch itseli, and which can be operated from amoving train approaching the switch from either direction.

A iurther object of the invention is to provide a switch having theswitch rails and switch points so constructed, that a train in passingfrom the main track to the branch track rides upon elevated rails andpasses over the rails of the main line track without coming in contactwith the same.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts tobe more particularly described hereinafter and fully set iorth in theclaims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the figures, and in which Figure 1 is a planview 01'' my switch showing the same open; Fig. 2 is a similar viewshowing the switch closed and the main line track clear; Fig. 3 is atransverse section on the line 3-3 oi Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a longitudinalsection on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a transverse section on theline 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of a part 01' theswitch-control ling mechanism; and Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic sideelevation of the controlling mechanism carried by the locomotive foroperating the switch.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1-1 represent the maintrack rails carried upon the usual cross-ties 3. The main track railsare continuous and unbroken at the switching point.

2-2 are the branch track rails carried upon crossties 4 and adjacent tothe main track upon extended ties 3. Adjacent to the main track rails,the branch track rails are elevated above the main track rails for apurpose which will appear hereinafter. A switch rail 5, elevated abovethe main track rails in the same degree as the adjacent extremities oithe branch track rails, is arranged between the main track rails at anangle therewith, and having an end substantially in alinement with thebranch track rails. A switch point 6 is arranged at the end of thebranch track rail nearest the main track and is adapted to swing aboutthe end of the branch track rails. The point 6 has a toe 7 extendingacross the inner main track rail and engaging with the end of the switchrail 5 as is shown most clearly in Fig. 1. The end of the switch rail 5is ,cut away at one side in a compound reverse curve and the toe of thepoint 6 is similarly cut away in the reverse direction to register withthe end of the switch rail when placed in engagement therewith.

The outer branch track rail 2 is curved in substantial alinement withthe inner main track rail 1. A switch point 8 is arranged at theextremity of the outer rail 2 and is adapted to swing about thisextremity. A similar switch point 9 is arranged at the extremity of theswitch rail 5 and is rigidly joined by means of crossbars 10 to theswitch point 8. Guard-rails 11 and 12 are rigidly mounted upon thecross-bars 10 adjacent to the switch points 8 and 9 and separatedtherefrom by spacing blocks 11 and 13. The pivoted ends of the switchpoints 8 and 9 are substantially similar in crosssection to thecross-sections of the rails 2 and 5 The switch points 8 and 9 areinclined and present lateral flanges projecting in an increasing degreetowards the toes and being substantially wedge-shaped to constituteinclined planes, adapted to carry the car-wheels from the main trackrails to the branch rails whenthe switch points are in operativeengagement with the main track rails. The switch point 8 has a rigid arm14, the outer end of which is pivoted to a lever 15 pivoted in asuitable bracket 16 carried by a cross-tie 3. The lever 15 has itsopposite end pivoted to a bracket 17 secured by means of an arm 18 tothe switch point 6. A guard-rail 19 is mounted adjacent to the switchpoint 6 and rigid therewith being separated from the same by spacingblocks 20, and one end of the guardrail 19 is laterally disposed awayfrom the switch point 6 and is secured to the bracket 17.

When the switch points 8 and 9 are moved into engagement with the maintrack rails the arm 14 is swung outwardly away from the main trackrails, swinging the lever 15 about its pivot and iorcing the switchpoint 6 into engagement with the switch rail 5, the toe 7 of the switchpoint extending over the inner main track rail 2 when the switch is inthe open position shown in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the switchrail 5 and the adjacent extremities of the branch track rails areelevated sufficiently above the main track rails to permit the wheelflanges to clear the latter when a train is passing from the main trackto the branch track. The inclination oi the switch points 8 and 9permits the wheels to ride easily from the main track to the branchtrack.

Adjacent to the main track rails at the side of the same is a leverplate 21 carried upon the cross-ties and having a hand-lever 22pivotally mounted thereupon. The push-rod 23 is slidably mounted betweenthe arms 24 of the lever plate and extends towards the main track. Thehand-lever 22 has its extremities pivotally secured to an arm 25 at theunder side of the lever plate. By swinging the hand lever towards themain track rails the push rod 23 is projected towards the same intoengagement with the guard rail 11 of the switch point 8 and forces thesame together with the switch point 9 into operative engagement with themain track rails. Helical springs 26 having the ends secured to thelever plate and a cross-bolt 27 oi the push-rod, normally hold thepush-rod from engagement with the guard-rail 11.

Bolt-rods 27 and 28 are secured by means of nuts 29 to the guard-rails11 and 12 and extend laterally thereirom having rigid heads 30 at'theouter extremities. Between the heads 30 are rigid stops 31 carried by across-tie 3 and helical springs 32 mounted upon boltrods 28, the latterpassing through suitable openings in the stops. The springs 32 normallyhold the switch point in inoperative position and out of engagement withthe main track rails.

The guard rail 11 has an arm at the end thereof presentinga transversepart 34 having a bearing 35 and a stop 36 at the opposite ends thereof.A pedal lever 37 having a laterally disposed catch 38 at one end, and apedal 39 at the opposite end is pivoted at the bearing 35 and restsnorinally upon the stop 36, which holds the lever in a substantiallyhorizontal position.

A slidable rod 4.0 extending from the switch point 8 to beyond theswitch point 6 is arranged adjacent to the inner track rail 1 and has arigid catch mmeber 41 normally adjacent to the pedal lever 37.

When the switch points 8 and 9 are forced into engagement with the maintrack rails by means of the hand lever 22, the catch 38 at the end ofthe pedal lever slips into engagement with the catch member 41 to holdthe switch 1. The end of thepedal lever and the outer end of the catchmember are suitably curved to permit the former to slip into engagementneatly with the catch member when the switch points are forced intooperative position. It will be understood that the switch can be closedby depressing the pedal 39 to release the catch, the springs 32instantly returning the a switch points 8 and 9 to an inoperativeposition. At

the same time, the switch point 6 is thrown from engagement with theswitch rail 5, through the action of the lever 15.

A helical spring 42 is mounted upon a laterally proj ecting pin 43carried by the guard-rail 19 and engages the head 44 carried by the pin,and a stop 45, the spring tending normally to force the switch point 6into an inoperative position, and thereby assisting the closing of theswitch when the catch is released.

The ends of the slidable rod 40 are outwardly disposed and are arrangedin sleeves 46 at the extremities of upwardly curved leaf springs 47 theopposite extremities of which are rigidly secured to the cross-ties. Thelaterally-disposedextremities oi the slidable rod 40 are provided withheads beyond the sleeves 46 engaging the slide plates 48 so that whenthe springs are depressed the heads can slide upon the slide plates 48,whereby the lateral displacement of the rod is effected. When one or theother of the curved springs 47 is depressed, the slidable rod is movedlongitudinally of the main track rail, and the catch member 4] isthereby laterally displaced from the pedal lever, whereupon the same isdisengaged and the switch is closed, leaving the track main track openand unobstructed for passage. The openings 47 are placed at suitabledistances from the switch, to allow for the high speed of express orother fast trains.

I provide a pivoted lever 53 adapted to be mounted upon a locomotive ora railroad car and having a roller 49 at one end thereof. A link 50connects the lever 53 with a hand lever 51 by means of which the lever53 maybe operated to dispose the roller 49 towards the track or awayfrom the same. The arrangement is such that when the roller 49 is in itslowest position the lever 53 engages a stop 52 adapted to limit itsmovement. In its lowest position the roller 49 comes into operativeengagement with the spring 47 when the locomotive or car reach es thetrack at that point, and in this way serves to operate the switch it thesame is open.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent 1. In a switch, in combination, a main track, a branchtrack, switch points adjustably connecting said tracks and havinginclined toes resting upon the bearing surfaces of the main track railswhen the switch is open, resilient means for normally holding saidpoints from engagement with the main track rails, means for holding saidswitch open against the resistance of said resilient holding means, andmeans for releasing said points to close the switch, said releasing,means being controllable from a train and from the track.

2. In a switch, in combination, a main track, a branch track, switchpoints adjustably connecting said tracks and having inclined toesresting upon the bearing surfaces of the main track rails when theswitch is open, springs for normally holding said points from engagementwith the main track rails, means for holding said switch open againstthe resistance of said springs. and means for releasing said points toclose the switch, the said releasing means being controllable from atrain and from the track.

1". In a switch, in combination, main track rails, branch track rails, aswitch rail, switch points adjustably connecting one of said branchtrack rails and said switch rail to said main track rails, a furtherswitch point mounted at the end of a branch track rail to swing in ahorizontal plane and having a toe adapted to extend over one of saidmain track rails to connect said branch track rail and said switch rail,resilient means for normally holding said switch closed, means forholding said switch open, and means controllable from a train and fromthe track, for releasing the holding means to close the switch.

4. In a switch, in combination, main track rails, branch track rails, aswitch rail, switch points adjustably connecting one of said branchtrack rails and said switch rail to said main track rails, said pointshaving inclined toes resting on the bearing surfaces of the main trackrails when said switch is open, a further switch point connecting theother of said branch rails and said switch rail and having a toeextending over one of said main track rails to said switch rail,resilient means for normally holding said switch closed. means forholding said switch open, and means controllable from a train and fromthe track for releasing said holding means, to close the switch.

In a switch, in combination, main track rails, branch track rails, aswitch rail, said branch track rails adjacent to said main track railsand said switch rail being elevated above said main track rails, switchpoints adjust-ably connecting said rails, said switch points beinginclined to permit a train to pass from the main track rails to thebranch rails, resilient means for normally holding said switch closed,means for holding said switch open, and means controllable from a trainand from the track, for releasing said holding means to close theswitch.

6. In a switch, in combination, main track rails, branch track rails, aswitch rail, said branch track rails adjacent to said main track railsand said switch rail being elevated above said main track rails, switchpoints adjustably connecting one of said branch track rails and, saidswitch rail to said main track rails, a further switch point pivoted atone of said branch track rails and having a toe adapted to extend overone of said main track rails to connect said branch track rail and saidswitch rail, and means for si mnltaneously operating said switch points,said tirst points increasing the height from the height of the maintrack rails to that of the branch track rails.

7. In a switch, in combination, main track rails, branch track rails, aswitch rail. said branch track rails adjacent to said main track railsand said switch rail being elevated above said main track rails, switchpoints a tably connecting one oi? said branch track rails and saidswitch rail to said main track rails, a further switch point pivoted atone of said branch track rails and having a toe adapted to extend overone oi? said main track rails to connect said branch track rail and saidswitch rail, resilient means for normally holding said switch closed,means tor holding said switch open, and means controllable from a trainand from the track, for releasing the holding means, to close theswitch.

8. In a switch, in combination, main track rails, branch track rails, aswitch rail, said branch track rails adjacent to said main track rails,and said switch rail being elevated above said main track rails, switchpoints adjustably connecting one of said branch track rails and saidswitch rail to said main track rails, a further switch point having atoe extending over one of said main track rails and connecting anotherof said branch track rails and said switch rail, and means forsimultaneously operating said points, resilient means for normallyholding said switch closed. means for holding said switch open, andmeans controllable from a train and from the track for releasing saidholding means to close the switch.

5). In a switch, in combination, main track rails. branch track rails, aswitch rail, switch points adjustably connecting one of said branchtrack rails and said switch rail to said main track rails, a furtherswitch point having a toe extending over one of said main track railsand adjnstably connecting another of said branch track rails and saidswitch rail, said first switch points being rigidly connected means forforcing said first switch points into operative engagement with saidmain track rails. means for holding said first switch points in anoperative position. and means controlled by said first switch points"for operating said further switch points.

10. Ina switch, in combination, main track rails, branch track rails, aswitch rail. switch points adjnstably connecting one of said branchtrack rails and said switch rail to said main track rails, said pointshaving inclined heads and presenting toes engaging the bearing surfacesof said main track rails when the switch is closed, a further switchpoint havinga toe extending over one of said main track rails andadjustably connecting another of said branch track rails and said switchrail, said first switch points being rigidly connected, means fornormally holding said first switch points from engagement with said maintrack rails, means for forcing said first switch points into operativeengagement with said main track rails, means for holding said firstswitch points in operative position, and means controlled by themovement of said first switch points for operating said further switchpoints.

11. In a switch, main track rails, branch track rails. a switch rail,switch points adjnstably connecting one of said branch track rails andsaid switch rail to said main track rails, means for resiliently holdingsaid points in an inoperative position, means for forcing said pointsinto an operative position, and means for holding the switch open, afurther switch point adjustably connecting the other of said branchtrack rails and said switch rail, a lever secured to said first switchpoints and controlling said further switch point, and resilient meansfor resisting the movement of said further switch point into anoperative position.

12. In a switch, main track rails, branch track rails, a

switch rail, switch points adjustably connecting one of said branchtrack rails and said switch rail to said main track rails, a springnormally forcing said switch points away from said main track rails,means for operating said switch points, a catch for holding the switchopen, said' catch being adapted to be released from a train or from thetrack, a further switch point adjustably connecting the other of saidbranch track rails and said switch rail. a lever secured to said firstswitch points and controlling said further switch point, and resilientmeans or resisting the movement of said further switch point into anoperative position.

13. In a switch, main track rails, branch track rails, a switch rail,switch points adjustably connecting one oi? said branch track rails andsaid switch rail to said main track rails, a spring normally forcingsaid switch points away from said main track rails, manuallycontrollable means for operating said points, a catch for holding saidswitch open, a slidablo member extendingbeyond said switch at both sidesthereof and adapted to be controlled from a train, said slidable memberhaving means for en gaging said catch to hold said switch open, saidpoints be ing released when said slidable member is operated. a furtherswitch point adjustably connecting another ot said branch track railsand said switch rail, a lever secured to said first switch points andcontrolling; said further switch point, and a sprin forcing said furtherswitch point into an operative position.

1%. In a switch, main track rails, branch track rails. a switch rail,switchpoints adjnstably connecting one of said branch track rails andsaid switch rail to said main track rails, said points having inclinedtoes resting on the bearing surfaces of said main track 'ails when theswitch is open, means for resiliently holding said points in aninopertive position, means for forcing said points into an operativeposition, and means for holding the switch open, a further switch pointadjnstably connecting the other oi said branch track rails and saidswitch rail and having a toe extending over one of said main track railsto said switch rail, a lever secured to said first switch points andcontrolling said further switch point. and rcsilient means for resistingthe movement oi said further switch point into an operative position.

15. In a switch, main track rails, branch track rails, a Switch rail,switch points adjustably connecting one of said branch track "ails andsaid switch rail to said main track rails, a spring normally forcingsaid switch points away from said main track rails, manuallycontrollable means for operating said points, a catch For holding saidswitch open. a slidable member extending beyond said switch at bothsides thereof and having upwardly curved slidable spring members adaptedto be engaged by a train to operate said slidable member, said slidablemember hav ing an extension adapted to en ge said catch to hold saidswitch open, said points being released when said slidable member isoperated, a further switch point adjustably connecting another of saidbranch track rails and said switch rail, a lever secured to said iirstswitch points and controlling said further switch point, and a springforcing said further switch point into an operative position.

16. In a switch, main track rails, branch track rails, a switch rail,switch points adjustably connecting one of said branch track rails andsaid switch rail to said main track rails, said points having inclinedtoes resting at the bearing surfaces of said main track rails when theswitch is open, a spring normally forcing (1 switch points away fromsaid main track rails, manually controllable means for operating saidpoints, a c: .ch for holding said switch open, a slidable memberextending beyond said switch at both ends thereof and having anextension adapted to engage said catch to hold said switch open, saidslidablc member having at the opposite end upwardly disposed springmembers adapted to be engaged by a train to 0p erate said slidablemember, said points being released when said slidable member isoperated, a further switch point adjustably connecting another of saidbranch track rails and said switch rail and having a toe adapted toextend over one of said main track rails to said switch rail, a leversecured to said first switch points and con trolling said iurther switchpoint, and a spring t'orcing said further switch point into an operativeposition.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

BIlItLEIGI-l LUCENIG MURPHY.

Witnesses Bnssin M. Connman, W. I. \VIGTON.

